Bancroft principal moving to Haddonfield Friends
The current principal of the Bancroft School in Haddonfield has been selected as the new head of school of Haddonfield Friends School.
The current principal of the Bancroft School in Haddonfield has been selected as the new head of school of Haddonfield Friends School.
Matthew Sharp of Cherry Hill will start his new post July 1.
"The Haddonfield Friends School community is excited to have someone as talented and respected as Matthew Sharp as our new head of school," said Louise Senopoulos, clerk of the Quaker school's board of trustees and a member of the search committee.
"He has tremendous energy, passion, and enthusiasm for education and Quaker values," Senopoulos said.
The search committee was also impressed with Sharp's 15 years of experience as a school administrator, she said, as well as his working and personal knowledge of South Jersey. He grew up in Maple Shade.
Sharp, who has worked for the Camden County Educational Services Commission and the Y.A.L.E. School, will replace interim head of school Peggy Bretschneider, a staff member at Haddonfield Friends since 2004. Sharon Dreese, the former head of school, stepped down in June 2015.
Sharp said he was not looking for another job when a Friends parent suggested he apply for the position. Sharp, 42, and wife Dayna are Quakers and members of the Haddonfield Monthly Meeting. Their son Nathaniel, 5, attends kindergarten at Haddonfield Friends; their youngest, Jonah, 3, will be going into the school's early childhood program.
The school enrolls about 140 students from the early childhood program through the eighth grade.
Sharp said he was attracted by the school's mission. "I was really drawn to this amazing opportunity," he said.
Dennis J. Morgan, a Bancroft vice president, called Sharp "a talented education leader with the innate ability to connect with students, faculty, support staff, and families. We are so grateful for his dedication and decadelong commitment to Bancroft and the students we serve."
Morgan wished Sharp success and said Bancroft would be looking for a new leader for the school's move to its new Mount Laurel campus. The Bancroft School serves a variety of special-needs children.
Sharp is a graduate of the College of New Jersey and earned a master's degree from Wilmington University. He is working on a doctorate at Rowan University.
856-779-3893
@ritagiordano